Hi everyone! My name is Eric Kirwin, and I am happy to be joining the SCIS community with my wife, who teaches lower school, and my son who will attend 3rd grade here. I also have a daughter back in the U.S. who is attending Michigan Technological University. This year, I will be working with 9th and 10th grade math students. This will be my first international school; in the U.S. I spent 15 years teaching middle school and high school math in Battle Creek, Michigan “the Cereal Capital of the World”. My BA and MA in Education both come from Western Michigan University, where my undergrad studies included math and physics and my graduate program was Secondary Administration. When I’m not working, I enjoy gaming apps, running, and studying game theory. I am excited to learn with you this year and make lasting memories.

Austin Kittelson

University of Northern Iowa

Kindergarten

Hongqiao Early Child Education Campus

Hello! My name is Austin Kittelson and I am thrilled to be teaching Kindergarten at the ECE Campus. This is my first year at SCIS and my fourth year in Shanghai. Prior to coming to China, I taught at international schools in Korea, Republic of Georgia and Jamaica. Born and raised in Iowa, I received my Bachelors in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with a minor in Literacy and Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa. I have a passion for teaching young children. I strive to instill a love of learning and foster curiosity in exploring the world around them. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, scuba, photography and writing. I am a freelance food writer and am constantly on the lookout for great eats. Shanghai has so much to offer and I am looking forward to another great year in this dynamic city.

Heather KNIGHT

University of Wisconsin, Mercery University, Central Michigan University

Vice Principal

Hongqiao Early Child Education Campus

Welcome to SCIS! This will be my fourth year at the ECE campus working with our youngest learners and their families. For the last 19 years, I have taught in the US as well as international schools in South America, Europe and the Middle East before moving to Shanghai. While I have had the pleasure and privilege of working in many schools at various grade levels, none have offered the unique experience of our ECE campus.
In addition to my extensive classroom experience, I hold a Reading Specialist, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and an ESL certification. I love learning and am always looking for ways to improve my understanding of child development, the ways in which children learn and the most current teaching practices. I am excited to be returning to my role as the ECE Campus Vice Principal and believe my years of education and experience will enable me to continue to support our students and faculty!
When I am not working, I enjoy reading, running, cycling and practicing yoga. My weekends are spent exploring Shanghai and all this great city has to offer.

Matthew Kushner

University of California

Mathematics

Hongqiao Upper School

Hi everyone…. my name is Matthew Kushner, and I am happy to be taken on to teach grade 9, 10, and IB Math Studies (first year) in the High School at Hongqiao campus. My own education is a BS in Physics (University of Delaware) and a MS in Applied Mathematics (University of California, Davis). I have had two careers in my life, one as a teacher, and another in software engineering, writing code to optimize the logistics of freight transport. For me, mathematics is something that is alive, and I always strive to bring the excitement of the real world into the classroom.
I have been teaching for a number of years and in several places around the world. Starting back in my youthful days in the Peace Corps in Guinea, and recently South Africa, where I spent over a decade.
Looking forward to an exciting time, and thankful for this wonderful opportunity.

Robert La Londe

UC Santa Cruz

Mathematics

Hongqiao Middle School

My name is Robert La Londe, and I teach Grade 6 Mathematics and Grade 6 and 7 Science at the Hongqiao campus. I am a third culture kid like our students, having been born and raised overseas by two international school teaching parents. I came into the world in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; then moved to Budapest, Hungary; then to Bangkok, Thailand; and finished High School in Kfar Shmaryahu, Israel. I immensely enjoyed growing up overseas and that is what prompted me to pursue a career in international teaching. The first time I lived in my home country, the United States, was when I attended the University of California at Santa Cruz where I majored in Environmental Studies. I attained my Masters of Education through SUNY Buffalo and am in the late stages of finishing my doctorate in Educational Leadership. I have now been teaching at SCIS for the past eight years and have had a great time interacting with our fantastic community. Shanghai is a fascinating city and SCIS has a great student population. This is also where I met my wife, Priya Goel, who is a former SCIS teacher. My wife and I have a one-year-old son named Riyaan. I am looking forward to another fun-filled and exciting year at SCIS!

Tara Morgan Lafferty

SUNY Buffalo

Grade Two

Hongqiao Lower School

Hello! My name is Tara Morgan, and I am so thrilled to be returning for my 4th year at SCIS as a 2nd Grade Teacher! I am originally from Middle Tennessee, but spent a few years in Dallas, Texas, before moving to this incredible city! Along with my teaching certification from the Great State of Texas, I also received my B.S. in Business Management from University of Phoenix. This will be my 7th year teaching, and my experience includes a wide array of levels including Kindergarten, 6th/7th English & Reading, 5TH Grade, Special Education-Behavior, and Gifted & Talented. Each experience has provided me with something unique and special, and with this I know that I am always learning and growing as an individual and educator.

Kurt Lahey

Loyola University & John Marshall Law School

Economics & Business

Hongqiao Upper School

I’m from Chicago, IL., USA, and have degrees from two of the finest institutions of higher learning in that city, Loyola University (BA) and the John Marshall Law School (JD). I pursued a career as a civil trial lawyer for seven years before turning to education and beginning my teaching career with the Chicago Public Schools. My first international teaching position was in the United Kingdom. I have taught in Korea as well. I am an experienced IB teacher in the area of Individuals and Societies, including Economics, Business & Management and History. I also enjoy coaching, and have coached basketball, softball and baseball. This is my first year at SCIS and I am excited by the diversity and enthusiasm I have encountered from the students and faculty here.

Steven Lawrence

Individuals and Societies

Pudong Upper School

My name is Steve Lawrence, and I’m from a small, one-stop town at the foothills of the Berkshire mountains in upstate New York. Prior to teaching I was a small business owner of plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning, after a stinted career as a sales rep and systems designer for a Plumbing/Heating/HVAC wholesaler. Upon meeting my wife in 2006 I discovered international teaching, and soon realized I’d discover a greater sense of purpose being a teacher than digging trenches and changing toilets (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Since becoming a teacher I’ve taught in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and am now so excited to be coming to Shanghai. I’m blessed to be teacher, and consider what we do as the best, and some of the most important work in the world. I can’t wait to meet you all, and to become your friend.

Melissa Lawrence

SUNY Oitsdam & University at Albany

English as an Additional Language

Pudong Lower School

My name is Melissa Lawrence, and I will be the new primary ESL teacher/coordinator at SCIS for the 2017-2018 school year. Originally from upstate New York, I have taught a total of 17 years, including seven years in New York and ten years internationally in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. I received my B.A from SUNY Potsdam in French/Secondary Education and my M.S in Literacy (K-12) from University at Albany. I also completed my ESL Certification at Manhattanville College in 2013. I particularly love working with students from different countries and cultures; but during my free time, I enjoy plant-based cooking, traveling, reading, studying nutrition, yoga, and spending time in nature and with animals. I am very excited to start this next chapter of my life in Shanghai at SCIS along with my husband, Steven, and our chubby fur babies.

Kyeungwon Lee

Yongsei University and Hanyang University

Korean

Hongqiao Upper School

Aannyeonghaseyo, my name is Kyeung-won, Lee and this is my second semester at SCIS Hongqiao. I teach IB Korean for grade 11 and 12. I was born in Seoul, Korea and I spent most of my life in the city. I earned my BA in Korean literature and philosophy at Yonsei University and MA in Drama at Hanyang university.
One night in 2008, I was watching all sorts of local families sitting in the train for Urumchi, the city in northern China. Although that was very wonderful moment, I never thought I would work here in China. But at this moment, I really feel at ease to be here with my family. Life is really unpredictable!

Barclay Lelievre

University of Toronto

Principal

Hongqiao Upper School

I am so very pleased to be part of the SCIS community as the Upper School Principal at our Hongqiao campus. I am originally from Canada and have held a number of teaching and leadership roles in Hong Kong, Toronto, and most recently Bangkok. I have an Honour’s B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Toronto, did my teacher education at Canisius College in New York, and received my MBA Ed. with distinction from Keele University in the U.K. I have spent a large part of my career working in IB schools and working directly with the International Baccalaureate Organization as a workshop leader, author, editor and resource developer, in particular with the IB Middle Years Programme. I was so very proud to be a part of the team that successfully brought the MYP to SCIS as we recently became a three-programme IB World School. My wife Jenna teaches at the ECE Campus and my children are receiving the very best education and all the opportunities SCIS has on offer with service, athletics and the Arts.

Jenna Lelievre

George Brown College

Nursery

Hello! My name is Jenna Lelievre and I first joined SCIS in 2015 along with my husband, who is the High School Principal of the Hongqiao campus. I grew up in Niagara Falls, Canada and then attended George Brown College in Toronto. Soon after, my husband and I moved to Hong Kong. This adventure that started as a two-year plan, would last ten memorable years, where I taught in an International Kindergarten and had our children, who also attend SCIS. After moving to Canada for a few years, we felt drawn back to Asia, and accepted exciting positions in Bangkok. Teaching at the Early Learning Centre—which follows a Reggio Emilia approach—gave me an insight into the ways toddlers approach and discover the newness of their world. I feel very privileged to be building on those experiences and be a part of young children’s rich beginnings at SCIS!

Jean Li

Fudan University

Mandarin

Hongqiao Lower School

Hi, I am Jean Lee. I graduated from Fudan University with BA in History. Being with children and watching them growing is the happiest thing in my life. I had been teaching Mandarin at SCIS for two and a half years before I had my daughter seven years ago. It was so happy to be back to SCIS three years ago. Every time when a middle school or high school student recognizes me in campus, I feel so proud and touched. So nice to see the kids growing, and I will try my best to help them with their Mandarin learning. I love this school.

Yang Liu

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Mandarin

Pudong Lower School

Greetings everyone! My name is Liu Yang. I’m so excited to be a part of SCIS-Pudong community. My experience as a Chinese language teacher showed me clearly that teaching is exactly where my passion is. I have taught Mandarin in New Zealand and the UK for two years. In these years, I have developed effective lesson plans, creative classroom activities and strengthened my understanding of classroom management. I have been successful in meeting different teaching demands in different schools, different classes, and teaching pupils of different levels. Teaching is not simply a job, it is my passion, and will be my lifelong career. Creative, effective and fun lesson design is what I enjoy and pursue all the way. I’m really looking forward to supporting our students with their Chinese learning and helping them to become inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners.

Andres Lopez

University of Salamanca

French & Spanish

Pudong Upper School

I am really enjoying being at SCIS again this year. I did Spanish with French studies at university and I teach both subjects at SCIS. I graduated (MA) in Filología Hispánica at the University of Salamanca, Spain and I immediately took off after that. I have spent the last twenty years around the world. I am originally from Spain, from the Basque region (between Spain and France). I have taught mainly in Edinburgh, Somerset, Cambridge, London, Peru and Vietnam and I have also travelled in more than forty countries. I am a mindfulness teacher who enjoys long hours basking in urban cafés. I am very happy, easy going and I have great fun in class.

Derek Luebbe

Valparaiso University & Capella University

Head of School

Pudong Campus

I’m thrilled to return to SCIS Pudong after over twenty years in international education. The youngest of six boys, I was raised in Winona, Minnesota. However, I now call the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville, NC home. My bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education was earned from Valparaiso University in Indiana. It was then, I set off on this unique journey of international teaching in Cairo Egypt where I met my wife Laurie at the American International School of Egypt. While working at the Kaohsiung American School in Taiwan, I earned an MA in Educational Administration. After Taiwan, we joined the SCIS community as the founding faculty in Hangzhou (2002) before moving to SCIS Pudong in 2004-08. Having spent the last eight years at the American International School of Budapest (Hungary), Laurie and I are excited to be back as SCIS Dragons. We are joined by our three daughters Ella, Elise, and Mei Lee who spent many of their formative years with SCIS. As a parent, I am grateful my own children were shaped by the SCIS experience; professionally, I am humbled to be serving students by leading such a dynamic school community.

Laurie Luebbe

University of Georgia

School Community Officer & Lower School Councelor

Pudong Campus

Hello! My name is Laurie Luebbe and I was raised in the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. I graduated from the University of Georgia in my birthplace, Athens. After completing university, I taught public school in Athens and then set out on a life -changing journey of international education. My adventure has taken me to Cairo, Egypt, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Shanghai, China and then for the past 8 years in Budapest, Hungary. I am very happy to have the opportunity to return to SCIS Pudong with my husband and three teenage daughters to rekindle my Dragon spirit in kindergarten. After twenty-five years of teaching, I have realized that learning as a teacher never ceases. I enjoy living and teaching in an international community and am thankful to be among a school filled with talented teachers and enthusiastic, bright learners.

Rebecca Macoskey

University of Cincinnati

Music & Art

Pudong Lower School

Hello! My name is Rebecca Macoskey and I’m thrilled to be teaching lower school music and art this year. I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and obtained my degree in music education from the University of Cincinnati. I moved to Shanghai shortly after graduating and taught elementary and middle school music for four years. I love helping children explore the arts, hone their natural abilities, and try things that they may not have otherwise tried. I’m looking forward to a fantastic, art-filled year!

John Marotto

University of North Texas

Grade Two

Hongqiao Lower School

Hi all! My name is John Joseph Marotto, and I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. I graduated from the University of North Texas. I have been an enthusiastic educator of elementary grades for the last several years and have a great deal of experience effectively working with English Language Learners. I began my teaching career in Dallas, taught 5th grade at an international school in Vietnam, and I am thrilled to be at SCIS for my 3rd year with more amazing 2nd graders!

Jennifer Marotto

University of North Texas

English as an Additional Language

Hongqiao Lower School

Greetings, I’m Jenni Marotto and I love being part of the SCIS family! I believe every learner can succeed, and I am passionate about learning being contextualized in content for English learners. This is my third year at SCIS and my tenth year working in education professionally; I’ve had the opportunity to work with curriculum development, program coordination, and in my favorite position, teaching! After teaching in Texas my husband and I moved to Vietnam where we taught in Hanoi for three years before coming to Shanghai. Our son was born here and he is such a joy! When I have free time, I enjoy hanging out with family, traveling, grilling, and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. My favorite animals are elephants, tropical penguins, and monkeys!